skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, February 7, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Judge pauses deadline for federal workers to accept Trump's resignation offer; CA state lawmakers take action to enact safeguards against federal immigration enforcement; Study shows air quality disparities from industrial ag in NC.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

WY lawmakers urge returning public school funding to constitutional minimum

play audio
Play

Monday, October 7, 2024   

A Wyoming committee has recommended a temporary bump in funding for public schools, while educators await a judge's decision on the state's broader duties to the system.

Wyoming's Joint Education Interim Committee voted to recommend an 8.5% increase in funding for public education during the next school year, an amount calculated to return funding to levels mandated by the state's constitution.

The increase comes through what is called an "external cost adjustment," which adjusts annually for inflation, which is meant to be on top of a "recalibration" every five years.

Kimberly Amen, president of the Wyoming Education Association, said the legislature has not incorporated results from the last three recalibrations.

"We, in this state, are operating on a funding model that dates clear back to 2010," Amen pointed out.

The Wyoming Education Association sued the state in 2022 for violating its constitution by not adequately funding public education. The judge is expected to make a decision on the case after he receives final materials later this month.

The cost adjustments are delivered via a block grant, so the proposed increase does not translate directly to a bump in teacher pay. Amen noted some school districts have had to use the block grants in creative ways to retain teachers, at the cost of other programming. Amen emphasized it particularly affects rural communities.

"Because we're such a rural state," Amen observed. "We have so many small communities where the school is the center of that community. "

Wyoming educators used to have a strong pay advantage over teachers in neighboring states but according to a report prepared for the committee, Wyoming's advantage has fallen by half since 2018.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
In the latest analysis of U.S. Department of Labor data by state, Maryland took first place as the worst state for wage theft, owing on average more than $2,200 to workers. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

Virginia ranks third behind only Maryland and Delaware among the worst states for the average amount of back wages companies owe to their workers…


Environment

play sound

Some North Dakota school districts are part of a movement that has embraced electric school buses, but the federal funding shakeup carried out by the …

Social Issues

play sound

Immigrant advocates in Florida are ramping up efforts to help families navigate President Donald Trump's new immigration orders, which have increased …


Gov. Kathy Hochul's free community college proposal would apply to people pursuing first-time associate degrees for jobs in high-demand fields, including nursing, teaching, technology and engineering. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

New York State is making historic higher education investments. As part of the 2026 budget proposal, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes free community …

Social Issues

play sound

Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed state budget includes a significant increase for public education to address Pennsylvania's school funding issues and …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Consumer advocates in Maine said the availability of enhanced subsidies have helped record numbers of people get the health care coverage they need…

play sound

The negative effects on air quality from industrialized animal facilities in North Carolina stick around for a long time, according to a new study…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021